Obtaining Plants and Improving our Stock. 87 



a few plants that, for some reason, will surpass all the others in vigor, pro- 

 ductiveness, and especially in the manifestation of the peculiar and distin- 

 guishing traits of the variety. I shall carefully mark such plants, remove 

 all others from their vicinity, and propagate from them. Thus, in the 

 course of two or three years, I shall renew my entire stock of standard 

 varieties from the very best and most characteristic specimens of each kind. 

 From this improved stock the best types should be chosen again and again ; 

 and by this course I am satisfied that a surprising degree of excellence 

 can be attained. It is on the same principle of careful breeding from 

 blooded and perfect animals. From very many localities come the com- 

 plaint that Wilsons and other fine old varieties are " running out." How 

 can it be otherwise, in view of the treatment they receive and the careless 

 way in which they are propagated ? Even when unmixed, they are usually 

 the enfeebled children of degenerate parents. There is no variety in the 

 country more badly mixed than the Wilson, and the trouble often arises 

 from wild strawberries creeping in among them from the edges of the 

 field. The spurious plants are taken up with the others, and the mixture 

 is scattered up and down the land. The same is true with other varieties 

 that have long been in cultivation. Indeed, I have found mixtures in new 

 varieties obtained directly from the originators. Therefore the need that 

 the plant grower should give personal and unceasing vigilance to the stock 

 from which he propagates, and that those who take a pride in improving 

 their stock should often scan their beds narrowly. Moreover, if a bed 

 stands several years in the same place, new seedlings may spring up, and 

 thus create a mixture. 



